When you are a caregiver for any loved one, this can be more than a full-time job and can seem a daunting and very lonely task. It can be frustrating and scary. Suddenly you are faced with severely limited time—hours that previously were spent doing day-to-day tasks are now gone. However, you shouldn’t have to feel that way. Your best resource is much nearer than you think: you can turn to your own support network.
Never be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. These people can be great resources for giving you a respite from the role of caregiver, and in most cases they will be more than happy to help. You could try holding a family meeting, at which you request that each family member take on a couple hours of time each week to help out with doctor’s appointments or other needed care time.
When this is done, you will find that suddenly you have the time you need to do all those things you have missed.
- Run errands
- Go to the bank
- Get your grocery shopping done
- Read a book
- Take a hot bath
- Just take a long walk and enjoy the day.
It is not selfish to crave the time to do this things—recreation is necessary for the human psyche. If you tap friends and family for support in your caregiving duties, you’ll find that the task is manageable after all.
